Maggie I used to take 1/2 or a 1/4 of an antabuse to force AF days, just enough to make it unpleasant if you drink but not so much to make you ill. It had a powerful psychologial effect! I was always a little afraid of the warnings for that stuff though, and threw the rest of mine away when I started TSM.

Falling asleep AF is harder, but I usually sleep better in the long run.

Hugs back at ya!

Thanks All41 - I would never dream of trying to drink on it, even though I take so little - I react so badly to it and have found that if I take a teeny tiny amount as you said the psychological effect is enough - it upsets my tummy even without me drinking ! Anyway I am about to take another tiny bit of a tab!! And yes it does make one force the AF days which right now I feel I really need to do. I do not think it helps TSM at all but a few days is not going to hurt.

I didn't sleep that well last night - but had much fewer sweats - in fact barely any - which was rather nice ! It obviously is the AL !!

Hugs, Maggie x

I used to have terrible sweats but they are rare now. Looking back on it I'm pretty sure it was some form of a nightly detox.

Last night I slept like a rock for the first time in years, and actually had trouble getting out of bed............wanted to keep on sleeping.

Your AF time will be coming soon enough, be patient

Thanks All41 - good to hear that you slept so well - I still yet have to have a good night although the sweats are not as bad. I woke this morning g feeling hung-over which is really weird as I do not usually get hangovers when I DO drink so to feel like this when I didn't is really quite a bummer .... will walk the dogs shortly to see if that will blow away the cobwebs!

I have had two AF days and am not sure if I will take the AB again today or not - it is easier than it used to be to take it and know that I will not be drinking - so the Nal is working in some way! the little demon in my head is saying 'don't take it today - drink today and take it tomorrow' - so I shall wait and see although if I do not take it first thing when my resolve is high I tend to not take it !!

Hugs everyone ! Maggie x

Stay strong!

In my case I knew I had to "put it to the test" to see what TSM had accomplished since November. I tend to view the world, not as a skeptic, but as someone who want to understand things from an evidentiary standpoint. Anyway, the thought of 30 days of abstinence was intimidating, but when I got into it it turned out to be easier than I thought it would.

That leaves me thinking that the remaining obstacles were in large part psychological, and that TSM had accomplished more than I could readily discern. At this point my plan is to go right back to TSM as I think I'm only part way there and I think I can accomplish more with Nal. One thing I know for damn sure is that when I resume TSM I want to develop a set of rules for my behavior and learn to moderate as I continue the extinction process.

That's where I think TSM and Moderation Management go hand in hand.

Peace to you girl!!!!

Morning Maggie, yes the Gabapentin was actually prescribed to me years and years ago to help me with uncomfortable sciatica after my surgery for a Herniated Disc in my back so I could sleep. It works for a lot of different things so now I have it prescribed for Hot Flashes which I have not been taking a lot a need to cause it does help. So when I need to sleep without the aid of alcohol I take 2 like I did last night cause I went AF yesterday and slept pretty darn good. I see they also prescribe it to help people abstain from alcohol?
Check with your Doctor as that may help you.
Alcohol really effects me with sleep and I see it does with so many others here. I know in the past when I forced myself to not drink for days, weeks etc my sleep got better and better and I was so more relaxed but that never lasted to long cause my cravings got to me and I always caved.
I have always been subject to hangovers more than anyone else I know drinking the same if not less but I agree with taking Nal+Drinking that I seem to have horrible hangovers. I just feel so crappy and can't get anything done that day or I need to really push myself.
2 AF days, whoo-hoo good for you anyway you can get them!
Nal ON!

My doctor is the pits - to even get in with them is hopeless - to get the Nal I had said I needed a follow up for something that I had been seen for months ago ..... if one has a problem and calls for an appt generally you cannot get in - you are told that if it is an emergency then you can go to the ER. So I sort of laughed an ironic laugh when you said to ask my doctor about the Gaba - not gonna happen ! But thanks anyway. Am feeling really flat right now having just had my first Guinness .... SO low today! Need to be more positive but hard when I am already having a sweat and have only just finished one drink .....I should have taken the AB when I thought about it this morning.

Going to get outside in the garden and do some hard work - will have a good reason to sweat then !!

hugs, Maggie xx

I don't really have any advice since I am new to this, except to tell you what I tell myself - hang in there - you can do this! Be kind to yourself!
Best wishes,
Tweed

Hi! I'm new here and later I'll introduce myself and start a weekly progress thread. I read all the progress from Maggie here in this thread. I started to use Naltrexone last Saturday only but I always research for information about what I take. I discovered about Sinclair Method only Sunday and started TSM. I also watch One Little Pill documentary which is really interesting. The next that I'll say below it's only my opinion but encourage you to verify everything I'll say with your Doctor.

First, congratulation Maggie. After reading the whole thread and at the end, I found that some of you are using Disulfiram (Antabuse) with TSM treatment. After searching about it, I think it's really a bad idea. The effect of Disulfiram last for 2 weeks long after the initial intake. That may be the reason why you may feel bad if your drank within that time. Do not force yourself for AF days. Just continue your traitement the way is supposed to be and without Antabuse. Take your Nal and hour after drink at least a little to continue telling your brain that it's not giving it pleasure until you are sure that you are not gona to drink that day. That they you are not gona to drink, skip the Nal. If you are not sure, take your Nal and drink.

I found too that Naltrexone can block syrop and pill based on opioïde.Maybe you already know that but want to make sure. I don't know if it's the case with what you take like Benedryl to help you sleep. But if it is Naltrexone will nullify the effect. It's something I tried to search about that and still not find anything. It still an advise.

I'm not a doctor, I always like to know how things work so I do a lot of research. From what I found I'll never use Disulfiram with the whole life time TSM for myself. That's my opinion and suggest you to think about that and verify the information. Disulfiram is for full time abstinence as I know.

Don't give up Maggie an everyone else posting here. I hope good cure but don't rush yourself everyone. See you next time.

Oh Maggie, so sorry you are having a bad day. Time for us to tell you: please don't be hard on yourself. Working in the garden sounds like a great idea. There IS going to be light at the end of this tunnel for you, I just know it. You want it so badly.

I have no experience with Antabuse, but it does sound awfully nasty. I do understand your frustration with not being able to get AF days, though, I am in the same boat unless I have a terrible hangover. Maybe instead of the Antabuse (you) and the shame (me) we should try using some sort of incentive to encourage AF days. Like, if you have an AF day tomorrow, you can buy yourself something nice, treat yourself to something, even eat a bowl of ice cream (I think I stole that from all41).

Hang in there, Maggie, sending you big hugs from sunny Florida where it is almost already too hot to work in the garden. Remember that you have a lot on your plate right now and be kind to yourself. Newlife